Smirnov strengthens his position by naming Anatoli Kaminski as head of Transnistrian legislature, analyst

“The appointment of Kaminski as president of the Transnistrian legislative body shows that he is favored by the self-styled president Smirnov, who is strengthening control not only over the region’s executive, but also over the legislature,” independent political analyst Vlad Lupan has told Info-Prim Neo. “Presumably, the Transnistrian authorities will have a reticent attitude towards the settlement of the conflict and it will not be solved quickly as the Communists Party (PCRM) promised,” Lupan said. The analyst does not rule out that the new speaker was accepted by Moscow. “It is a method of influencing the official Chisinau through Transnistria, if the PCRM does not keep the power after the July 29 elections,” he added. Anatoli Kaminski was elected as president of the Supreme Soviet of Transnistria on July 22 by the vote of 32 of the 34 deputies attending. He was the only candidate, put forward by the majority faction “Obnovlenie”. The post was vacated by Evgheni Shevchuk, who resigned saying that he does not agree with the internal policy pursued by the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov. From 2000, Anatoli Kaminski had been vice president of the Supreme Soviet. In 2004, the European Union included him in the list of Transnistrian officials who were not allowed to enter the EU. He was accused of hindering progress in settling the Transnistrian conflict in Moldova. The restriction was lifted in February 2008.